Cable clamp



May 5, 1931. J. 5. TAYLOR 1,804,288

G ABLE CLAM P Filed Jan. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jg-Q...

INVENTOR.

James 5.115310!" L f ATTORNEYS May 5, 1931.

J. S. TAYLOR CABLE CLAMP Filed Jan. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jame sINVENTOR.

5 T lpr' ATTORNEYS.-

y 5, 1931- J. 5. TAYLOR 04,288

CABLE CLAMP Filed Jan. 14, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

James ELTEH]. or

Patented May 5, 1931 snares :srarss JAMES S. TAYLOR, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA,ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO LORY J. MILDBEISL PATENT orriica 0F PONCA CITY,OKLAHOMA CABLE CLAMP Application filed January 14, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in cable clamps.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedclamp for support 'of drill cables and the like, having means associatedtherewith by which an enormous pressure may be brought to bear upon thecable clamping jaws of the clamp device; the improved cable clampembodying improvements on the cable clamp set forth in my United StatesPatent No. 1,675,996,

patented July 3, 1928.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved meansfor adjusting the cable clampingliners of the jaws of a cable clamp, tocompensate for wear thereon, or to adjust the improved clamp toparticular sizes of cable being supported. Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent during the course of the followingdetailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, showing theimproved cableclamp with the jaws closed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the improved cable device, viewing thedetails from the front, with the jaws closed.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of one of the jaws of the cable clamp,showing more particularly the liner seat thereof.

Figured is a view showing the relation of the cable clamping liners ofthe improved clamp device.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken sub stantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

' Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of oneof the cableclamp jaws.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the outer endsof the cable clamp jaws,showing the relation thereof.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the means for bringing the jaws intoclamping position.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a modified form of the improved cabledevice, viewing the details from the front with the jaws Serial No.420,757.

closed; this modification having a reversi-' ble form of linerassociated therewith and improved means to guide the cable into thegrooves of the liner. j

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the modified form of clamp ofFigure .9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of one of the jaws of the modified formof cable clamp, showing more particularly the seat for the liner and anadjacent groove used for receiving the sand line therein.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the improved modified form of liner.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 13-13 ofFigure 10. Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken across theliner of Figure 12, substantially on the line 1l14 in Figure 12. In thedrawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferredand modified embodiments of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the improved clamp. which may include a supporting body B,having clamp jaws C and D pivotally mounted thereon for the gripping ofa cable therebetween. Means. F is provided for relatively adjusting thejaws C and D in the body B.

The body B, as well as other parts of the invention, may be made ofdurable metal construction, of a nature best adapted to support theheavyweight of a cable and drill tools supported thereby. It includesthe substantially concave-convex frame 10, having one face 11 thereofconcaved, and the opposite side convex. At the opposite side edges thesaid portion 10 is provided with forwardly extending flanges l2 and 13,throughout the height of the portion 10, to define a channeltherebetween and of which the concave surface 11 forms the bottom, as isshown in Figure 1. At the upper and lower edges thereof the frame 10 isprovided with the transversely extending reinforcing flanges 14 and 15,as more particularly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The flanges 12and 13 are convexly bowed inwardly into the channel space therebetween,at 16 and 17, preferably throughout the height thereof; the ends of theflanges 12 and 13,

in fact, forming barrel portions provided with passageways 18therethrough, adapted to receive pivot pins 19 and 20 respectively, forrespectively pivoting the jaws C and D thereto, as will be subsequentlymentioned. The upper and lower surfaces of the body B are preferablyflat and parallel.

The jaw constructions C and D are formed in lefts and rightsrespectively, and have their respective hearings on the flanges 12 and13, more particularly at the convex surfaces 16 and 1.7. They are of thesame general construction, except at the forward ends thereof, and eachincludes a main body portion 35, provided with one side thereof concavedat '36, longitudinally thereof from 7 top to bottom, for receivingtherein the con vexities 16 and 17 of the body B, as shown in Figure 1of the drawings. The radii from which the convex surfaces 16 and .17 andthe concave surfaces 36 are struck, are all equal, so that'the jaws Cand D have an accurate bearing on the convex barrel portions of the bodyB, which extend into the channel between the extensions 12 and 13. Thejaws C and D each have upper and lower lateral extensions 37 and 38respectively, adapted to overlie rather snugly the upper and lowersurfaces of the body B, as shown in Figure 2; said extensions 37 and 38being apertured at 40 for alignment with the apertures 18 of the barrelportions of the body B, to receive the pivot pins 19 and 20 for pivotingthe jaws C and D respectively to the body B. The pintles or pins 19 and20 mayhave heads integral at the lower ends thereof and detachablecotter pins 41 at the upper ends thereof to facilitate connection, ifdesired, as shown in Figure 2.

Notwithstanding the provision of the pintle pins 19 and 20, thewear-does not take place directly thereon, incident to a clampingaction, but is placed directly upon the convex surfaces 16 and 17 uponwhich thesaid jaws C and D pivot.

Each of the jaw bodies 35 is provided for wardly thereof with theforwardly extending and relatively converging upper and lower arms 40and 41, more particularly shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, which areconnected at their free ends in forwardly extending shanks 42 and 43 forthe aws C and D respectively, with which the means F cooperates to drawthe jaws together into a cable clamping position.

The jaws C and D at the facing sides thereof are each longitudinallyrecessed, at 42and 43 respectively; said recesses 42 and 43 beingpolygonal shaped in cross s ction, providing opposite parallel faces anda bottom; the bottom of each of said recesses tapering downwardly withrespect to the normal clamping axis of the cable, so that ,the bottomsof the recesses 42 and 43 are relatively convergent downwardly, as shownin Figure 2 of the drawings, which is for the purpose of enabling theliners 45, which seat in said jaws C and D, to be adjusted for wearcompensating purposes, and to suit them to particular sizes of cable.The flanges at the facing sides of the body 35 of each of the jaws CandD are particularly cut down to the bottom of the recesses 42 and 43,intermediate the ends of the body 35, as more particularly shown at 46in Figure 2 of the drawings, and in this location the bottoms of therecesses 42 and 43 are provided with sockets 47, or supporting teeth orserrations, defining upwardly facing preferably horizontal surfaces withwhich retaining lugs 48 at the outer sides of the liners 45 maycooperate in selective relation.

The liners 45 are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, andthe same are" formed so that they may be used in either the jaw C or D,without the necessity of making the same rights and lefts. In crosssection they are polygonal, having opposite parallel sides 50 and 51,with asloping surface 52 adapted to engage against the bottom of therecess in the jaw in which seated. The face of each of the liners isprovided with a longitudinal concavity 54 adapted to receive the cabletherein. With respect to the axis of the concavity 54, the slopingsurface 52 opposed thereto converges downwardly, Thus, the liner 45 istapered with respect tothe concavity 54 downwardly in a convergentrelation; the linerbeing widest at its upper end and graduallydecreasing towards the lowerend thereof. The surfaces 52, are adapted toseat against the sloping bottoms of the recesses 42 and 43 of therespective jaws in which placed, and the polygonal cross section of therecesses andthe liners prevents relative rotary movement of the same.hen in position, as shown in Figure 1, the liners snugly seat in theirjaw recesses with the concavities 54 facing to clamp a cable therein.The lugs 48 are provided in outstanding relation from the surfaces 52,about midway between the upper and lower ends of the liner; said lugs 48forming detents with preferably lower horizontal surfaces. The detents48 are adapted to selectively seat in or upon the sockets or teeth 47,for longitudinal adjustment of the liners in the aws C and D, for wearcompensating and other adjusting purposes.

In order to hold .the liners in the position in which adjusted, the saidliners .are provided in opposed sides thereof with slots 56, preferablyabove the lugs 48, and into which the pointed ends of set screws 57 mayadjust; the set serews 57 being adjustably threaded in screw threadedopenings 59 provided in the flanges of the jaw bodies 35, as shown inFigures 1 and 2 ofthe drawings. These screws 57 are placed at an acuteangle with respect to a plane normal to a line intersecting the pivotaxes of the jaws, in order that the clamping effect of the set screwswill have a tendency to seat the liners 45 more firmly in their recessesor sockets in the jaws. lVhen the jaws are in cable clamping positionthe screws 57 are convergent in the direction of the heads thereof. Theheads of the screws of course may be easily reached for adjustment,inasmuch as they are at the fronts of the bodies about midway betweenthe arm portions and 41 of the jaws; the boss in Figure 6 representingthe location of the screw threaded sockets provided for receiving a setscrew 57.

It is preferably a feature of this invention, as it is also a feature ofthe invention of my above mentioned patent, that when the jaws C and Dare clamped upon a cable to support the same, the center of the cable assupported by the liners of the awswill lie forwardly a fraction of aninch from a line drawn straight between the pivot axes of the jaws C andD. The arrangement insures a substantially right angled purchase of thelever jaws on the cable, in order that a powerful clamping action maytake place.

Means is provided to insure a uniform opening and closing of the jaws Cand D, in order to produce an efiicient clamping action on a cable. Thisis provided by placing on the rear of the bodies 35 of the jaws C and D,fingers and 66 respectively,

facing in the channel of the body B, and

operating respectively at their convex edges 67 upon the convex surfaces68 of the adja cent jaws, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. This isa feature of my patent above referred to, and it is apparent from thedescription herein, and in my patent that inner and outer movement ofthe jaws will be effected in the same degree, due to the riding of thesurfaces 67 on the surfaces 68.

The means F for clamping the jaws C and D together preferably comprisesa linkshaped member 70, shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, consisting ofupper and lower parallel bars 71 and 72 connected at similar ends ofeach by a cross bar or bight portion 73, presenting a concave surface 74to the space between the bars 71 and 72. At its opposite end the linkhas the bars 71 and 72 connected by a cylindrical portion 75, having ascrew threaded passageway 76 therethrough. The passageway 76 receives anadjusting bolt 77 of T-shaped formation, having a screw threaded shank79 and a handle 80 thereon in right angled relation to the axis of theshank 79. The shank 79 adjusts into the space between the bars 71 and72, and is provided with a jaw clamp ing abutment 82 thereon.

The jaw C at its free end is provided with the reduced connecting shank42* having at the outer side thereof a concave socket 84% facing awayfrom the other jaw D. It is adapted to receive therein the bight 73 ofthe clevis or yoke body 7 O, in such relation that the latter may beswung to position the free ends of the jaws C and D in the space betweenthe bars 71 and 72.

The reduced end 4:8 of the jaw D, is provided at the outer end thereofwith upper and lower detachable retaining extensions 87 and 88, screwthreaded at 89 thereon, defining grooves in the upper and lower surfacesof the jaw D, at its free end, between the arms 40 and 11, and theirrespective upper and lower retaining pieces 87 and 88. In these grooveslie the bars 71 and 72 of the clevis member 70; the distance between theupper and lower extreme surfaces of the retaining blocks 87 and 88 beinggreater than the height of the opening in the clevis member 70, so thatthe said member may be swivelly connected to the jaw D in a freelymovable relation, and in position so that its free end may be moved toengage the socket 84 of the jaw C. Of course, the screw 77 islongitudinally adjustable into the elongated opening 90 of the clevismember 70, and adapted to engage in a socket 91 provided therefor at theouter side of the lug 23 of the jaw D. It is relatively understandablethat upon threading the screw 77 into the opening of the clevis member70, the jaws C and D will be brought together for clamping the linersagainst a cable for supporting purposes.

As an improved feature of the invention it is preferred to provide hooks96 and 97 at the tops of the aws C and D respectively, integral with thebodies thereof, and ex tending laterally from the arms of said jaws;said hooks 96 and 97 being of inverted J-shaped formation and with theirfree ends spaced above the top surface of the body B, to facilitate theslipping of conventional reins therein for supporting the clamp from thetemper screws of conventional well drilling apparatus This feature ofproviding the hooks on the pivoted jaws is in contradistinction to thestructure set forth in my patent above referred to, and is best underpractical conditions.

Referring to the modified form of invention illustrated in Figures 9 tola inclusive, the same utilizes a body B of exactly the sameconstruction as the body B above described, and similar referencecharacters have been applied to said body B for all forms of theinvention. In the modified form of invention jaws C and D are provided,which in like manner with the preferred form of invention are in leftsand rights respectively, and are supported and related to the body B inthe same manner as above described for the preferred form of invention.

which are shaped similar to the recesses 12 and t?) of the jaws C and Dof the preferred form of invention, as can readily be seen from thedrawings. An improved type of liner 100 is utilized in connection witheach of the jaws C and D, which is a daptable to be used in either jaw,or reverse in either jaw. The liner 100, as shown in Figure 1?, hasopposite faces 101 and 102 in parallelism, and along opposite sides,which are normal to the surfaces 101 and 102, the liner 100 is providedwith longitudinal cable receiving grooves or secrets 103 and 104,

which may be of the same cross section or different cross section, asdesired. The sides in which the grooves 103 and are formed taperconvergently from the upper end of the liner downwardly to the lower end106 thereof, as is shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. The sockets #12and 1?) for the liners 100 are of such size that the liners seat thereinso as not to permit any appreciable projection of the facing sides ofthe liners beyond the facing sides of the jaws, and in this position thefacing grooves of the liners of the jaws C and D are complementary forreceiving a cable, as can be seen in Figure 10 of the drawings. It isreadily appreciable that the liners 100 are reversible in each of thejaws, and may be placed in either jaw. The advantages of sucharrangement are well apparent.

In order to hold the liners in the position in which they are placed,against relative movement transverse to or longitudinally of therespective jaw opening position, the said liners are each provided, oneach side 101 and 102 thereof, with two longitudinal series of circularor other shaped sockets. Thus, as shown in Figure 12 a series 107 ofsuch sockets are'arranged longitudinally of the liner, on the surface101, closer to the groove 103 than the other groove 10 1, and similarlya second series of such sockets 108 are provided, in a line parallelwith the adjacent edge of the liner, but closer to the groove 10 1 thanthe groove 103. As is shown in Figure 14 these series of sockets areprovided on each of the faces 101 and 102 of each liner,'to permit thereversibility of the liners as above mentioned. Set screws 110 areadjustably threaded into suitable screw threaded openings 111 providedin the flanges of the jaw bodies 35 of the jaws C and D, as shown inFigures 9 and 10 of the drawings, in much the same manner as thepositioning of the set screws 57 effectively seat the latter, and theends of the screws 110 engage in the sockets 107 or 108, depending uponthe positioning of the liners 100, as 1s quite apparent from Figure 10of the drawings.

The jaws C and D are modified over the jaws C and D of the preferredform of invention, in the provision of reduced guide extensions 113 and114, at the tops of the jaws C and D respectively. At the handle sidesof the liner grooves or recesses 12 and 13 respectively, to serve asguides for directing the rope or cable into the grooves of the liners,will be well apparentto those skilled in this art. In addition, theseextensions 113 and 114, which are positioned at the handle side of therespective liner recesses, are also provided at the upper ends thereofabove the recesses t2 and 4:3 with transversely extending bosses 115,more particularly shown in full lines in Figure 11, and in dotted linesin Figure 9, as a further aid in directing the rope into the linergrooves.

As a further feature of the modified jaw construction, grooves 116 and117 are provided in the facing sides of the jaws C and D respectively,in parallelism with the liner sockets 42 and 43, but between the handlesof the respective jaws and said liner recesses; the said grooves 116 and117 er;- tending upwardly along the extensions 113 and 114, as is shownin Figure 11 of the drawings. These grooves are adapted to receive thesand line, and are cut in front of the liner seats, and run paralleltherewith to enable an expeditious holding of the sand line whilesplicing or fishing, or for any other purpose when it is required toclamp the sand line when the latter is to be run into the well opening,but cannot be used while the cable is clamped.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the forms of invention shown and described, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: I

1. In a cable clamp a supporting body, jaws movably connected upon thebody, means to move the jaws towards and away from each other forclamping a cable therebetween, said jaws having polygonal shapedrecesses therein, liners in said sockets of polygonal form fittingsnugly into said sockets in a non-rotatable relation. said liners havingfacing sockets for the clamping of a cable therein between the liners,and means for adjusting the liners relatively towards and away from eachother independent of corresponding movement of said aws.

2. In a cable clamp a pair of jaws, means movably supporting the jaws,the facing surfaces of the jaws having a series of spaced socketstherealong in a line transverse to the plane of movement of the jaws,and liners for each of the jaws having means cooperating therewith toselectively fit in the sockets for adjusting the liners in apredetermined relation.

3. In a cable clamp a body, a pair of jaws pivoted on the body, the jawsin facing relation having recesses the bottoms of which are relativelyconvergent in a linev transverse to the plane of movement of the jaws,the bottoms of said recesses having series of sockets therealong, andliners having surfaces in abutment with the converging sur faces in therecesses of said jaws, the liners having extensions thereon adapted forselected fitting in the series of sockets of their respective jawrecesses for adjustment of the liners in a predetermined relation alongtheir respective jaw recesses.

I. In a cable clamp a body, a pair of jaws pivoted on the body, the jawsin facing relation having recesses the bottoms of which are relativelyconvergent in a line transverse to the plane of movement of the jaws,the bottoms of said recesses having a series of sockets therealong,liners having surfaces in abutment with the converging surfaces in therecesses of said jaws, the liners having extensions thereon adapted forselected fitting in the series of sockets of their respective jawrecesses for adjustment of the liners in a predetermined relation alongtheir respective jaw recesses, and set screw means for holding theliners in a predetermined clamped relation in their recesses.

5. In a cable clamp the combination of a body comprising a substantiallychannelshaped frame having opposed side flanges in facingrelation, theflanges being provided with facing convex surfaces in the channel groovewhich are continuous from the top to the bottom of the channel, parallelwith the channel way, jaws having concave grooves therealong forreceiving said convex surfaces of the channel flanges, and meanspivotally connecting the jaws on said body in such relation.

6. In a cable clamp.the combination of a supporting frame including achannelshaped body provided with opposed side flanges having facingconvex surfaces therealong, a pair of jaws having concave grooves forsnugly fitting in said convexities of the flanges, the flanges of saidframe having passageways therethrough, the jaws extending beyond theends of the channel-shaped frame and having apertured lugs fitting overthe frame, with the apertures thereof aligning with the adjacentpassageways of said channel flanges, and pintles pivotally connectmgsaid jaws, extending into the apertures of the lugs and passageways ofthe channel flanges.

7 In a cable clamp the combination of a supporting body, a pair of jawspivoted on the supporting body, the jaws in the facing surfaces thereofhaving facing recesses of polygonal cross section and with the bottomsthereof tapering in converging relation in line transverse to the planeof movement of the jaws, liners adjustably fitting in the recessesagainst said converging surfaces, means to hold the liners in position,said last mentioned means including positive interlocking means betweenthe liners and jaws to prevent sliding of the liners along the jaws, andset screw means holding said interlocking means in a desired connectedrelation.

8. In a cable clamp the combination of a body, jaws movable upon thebody, liners adjustable on the jaws, the liners having grooveslongitudinally thereof, and a set screw on each jaw for each lineradjustable into the grooves of the liner into a locked engagement withthe liner.

9. As an article of manufacture a reversible liner for the jaws of cableclamps comprising an elongated longitudinally tapered body havinglongitudinally converging cable clamping recesses in opposite edgesthereof, the opposite sides of said liner being normal to the edges inwhich said cable receiving recesses are disposed, and said oppositesides each having a pair of spaced longitudinal series of clampingsockets arranged therealong.

JAMES S. TAYLOR.

